It is said that the hallmark of a gentleman is that he is only ever rude intentionally. Arthur Bryant was no gentleman. His rudeness came from an inability to cloak his opinions in even the most cursory civility. He believed in good manners at the meal table and bad manners almost everywhere else.
Arthur Bryant, a character in Christopher Fowler's book "Strange Tide," embodies a form of rudeness that is not deliberate but rather stems from his inability to disguise his honest opinions. Unlike the typical gentleman, who is defined by his conscious decision to be polite or rude, Bryant's lack of tact reveals a deeper flaw in his character. He seems to reserve his politeness for formal settings, like the dinner table, while expressing his bluntness in all other situations.
This contradiction highlights a critical aspect of Bryant's personality. While he upholds certain social norms in specific situations, his overall demeanor is marked by a disregard for civility in conversation. His inability to temper his words with kindness emphasizes the complexity of his character, revealing someone who operates outside conventional notions of respect and etiquette.
